From a Far and Lovely Country by Alexander McCall Smith

In the latest installment of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, Mma Ramotswe, proprietor of Botswana’s only detective agency, teams up with Mma Potokwani, matron of the Orphan Farm, to bring joy to a woman who has recently suffered heartbreak.

One day while Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi are enjoying their mid-morning tea break, an American client, Ruth, arrives seeking assistance. Ruth’s beloved grandfather was from Botswana, and he instilled in her a love of his homeland. Now, years later, after his passing, she has come to visit the land of which he spoke and to find her relatives. Unfortunately, his stories, while remarkably charming and entertaining, were not very detailed, and so all she remembers is a few first names and some descriptions of his village.

It’s not a lot to go on, but if anyone is well poised to help people with the problems in their lives it is Mma Ramotswe. The more she talks to their new client, the more Mma Ramotswe starts to realize there is more to this woman’s longing than she initially thought. While engaging in her investigations, Mma Ramotswe also discovers that her new American friend has some skills that Mma Potokwani could put to good use. With the help of Mma Ramotswe and Mma Potokwani, Ruth deals with her heartbreak, and after coming to Botswana in search of family and connection, she finds a home in the warm embrace of her two new friends.

Story Locale: Gaborone, Botswana

ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH is the author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels and of a number of other series and standalone books. His works have been translated into more than forty languages and have been bestsellers throughout the world. He lives in Scotland.

Author Residence: Edinburgh, Scotland